Iowa’s Simple Pleasures: Season Two

Phil Blobaum shoots the conversation between Dan Kaercher and Mike Rastrelli in Clinton.

A restaurant is great place to put Dan Kaercher, host of the IPTV program Iowa’s Simple Pleasures.

I spent a few days on the road with Dan for season two of ISP, including a couple of restaurants. (You can watch Season 1 by clicking here.)

We went to Rastrelli’s in Clinton where Dan made some sausage and pizza. We had  a great time that night and ate our selves silly. When I was editing, all I could think about was bread, pizza and hot fudge sundae. That is a good thing about traveling with Dan, eating well. He must live on his treadmill when not on the road with us.

Phil captures the conversation between Dan Kaercher and Heidi Plummer of Kernel Cody's Popcorn Shoppe.

We also took a trip to the best tenderloin in Iowa at Goldie’s in Prairie City and even a visit to the Mississippi River town of LeClaire. The stop in LeClaire led us to Kernel Cody’s Popcorn Shoppe along the riverfront.

Dan and I also made a trip to Templeton and expose a secret. Ok, it is not that big of a secret, but it is where they bottle Templeton Rye. Back in July, I attended the Rock ‘n Rye event for part of the story.

 

For the rest of the week, I”ll be posting stories about those trips.

You too, can see a preview of the show during our Festival programming on Iowa Public Television. The preview show runs March 10th at 8:30 PM. I know part or all of my LeClaire piece will air that night.

Thank you for your support of IPTV and our programming.

Hats start your day off right

Amanda Lewis, KCCI-TV8

And we’re back with another fun time with hats, hoods, or even ear muffs, as you’ll see in this latest post on the Iowa media and their hats. A new installment came your way recently featuring mostly Quad City media members. Because you know, hats aren’t just for breakfast in the QCA. We begin with KCCI’s Amanda Lewis. We’ll get to her new anchor pairing in a bit.

Mark Tauscheck, KCCI-TV8

Here’s KCCI part-timer and new daddy Mark Tauscheck. The former TV13 reporter occasionally picks up shifts for Iowa’s News Leader. Mark recently became a new dad and I hope he’s enjoying some special time in those early weeks of life. His classic headband was needed on this report.

Megan Salois, WHO-TV13

My thanks to everyone’s friend RHS76 for this shot of Megan Salois. The weekend meteorologist for TV13 has been busy since Jeriann Ritter delivered her baby. Megan and Brett McIntyre have pulled a lot of shifts to cover Jeriann’s well-deserved leave.

Jessica Daley, WOI-TV

Now to the ABC5 family of reporters. We had a good one from weekend anchor Christina Palladino in the last hat post, now it is time for Jessica Daley to bring her hat. Boy did she ever. This classic hat is back in fashion and back on television. You can follow Jessica on Twitter if you’re into that kind of thing.

Joe Augustine, WOI-TV5

Sticking with the ABC5 family based in West Des Moines, not Ames, here’s Joe Augustine. This reporter is usually drawing the shortest of all the short straws. He’s usually the one in the cold, snow, rain and whatever other elements Iowa can throw at him. Actually, it is whatever his assignment desk and producers throw at him. The weather just happens to be part of the story. That is the glory of the job.

Megan Reuther, WHO-TV13

The original title of this series of posts dedicated to hats, talked about breakfast. How many of you have eaten breakfast when you see this smiling face on TV? TV13′s Megan Reuther is on your TV most mornings. Even when pregnant, she’s still out and about. Thanks to trusty photojournalist Trent Reicks or Roger Riley, you’ll have Megan in your living room. That morning reporter gig is a tough one, but fun if the right story comes along. Or easy. During the most recent set of storms, Megan couldn’t get out of her driveway, so the live truck came to her so she could do her morning live shots. How many of us want that to happen to us when work comes to us, even on snow days?

Eric Hanson, KCCI-TV8

Now it is time for the white, Norwegian rapper. I’m talking about Eric Hanson. He’s not going all Justin Bieber on us, but wearing the good old ear muffs. A TV reporter has to protect his hair. Especially those who are rappers. But usually the rappers wear stocking caps. C’mon, Eric, a little consistency with your reputation.

Emily Price, KCCI-TV8

KCCI weekend anchor Emily Price also gets some outdoor time during big storms. Here is Mrs. Dave Price. Emily’s husband also anchors weekends, but on Channel 13. It would be tough to be in the same house and have the same job, but at different stations. I’m sure there’s a little couch talk between Dave and Emily about work and stories. I can only imagine how hard it is to not tell the other about your story ideas. But there’s still a fire in each one to beat the other, so that keeps them tight-lipped with the other. They are Mizzu-rah grads after all.

Molly Nelson, KCCI-TV8

Molly Nelson is another one of those morning reporters. You’ll find her on the air at the same time as Megan Reuther, but on KCCI’s Newschannel 8 This Morning. Now that show is anchored by Steve Karlin and Katie Ward. Plus you’ve got the new morning meteorologist Wes Callison in the house now that Bryan Kerrick has moved north. Molly is a former Drake basketball player and like Brett McIntyre of Ch. 13, the pride of Fort Dodge.

Marcus Macintosh, KCCI-TV8

The former holder of the male morning anchor chair was Marcus Macintosh. He’s now anchoring Saturday and Sunday mornings on KCCI. He’s now teamed with Amanda Lewis. I still get a lot of inquiries about what happened to Marcus Macintosh? He’s still on Channel 8, just different days. The official reason given for the change was to give experience and help to the expanded weekend newscasts. Now that he’s not anchoring as many days, he’s now being thrown into the reporter mix like he was this day on assignment in Prairie City. Ahhhh, PC, home of Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe, the buffalo preserve and much of my family.

Megan Brown, WHO-TV13

Here’s a look at WHO-TV multimedia journalist Megan Brown on the air back in December. You can’t really see her face as the picture was a little washed out, but you can clearly see her hat in the dark night sky. That’s a great backdrop for live shots from the TV13 basement/garage door. It is not as good as the old Des Moines skyline shot as viewed from the employee door, but it will work.

Hat Guy.

I’m not sure who this guy is. He was in a KCCI story one day and I thought he deserved to be in the hat posts. Could you imagine if this trend caught on with reporters? You wouldn’t have to identify them with name keys on the bottom of the screen. You would just have to listen to the sound of their voice and their story. I guess that type of thing already exists. It is called radio.

Hats, they’re not just for breakfast anymore

Lee Rouse in front of the WHO-TV 13 live truck.

I’ve asked. You’ve responded. Here’s another installment of Paul Yeager’s Hat Parade.

I like to see pictures of TV reporters wearing hats while doing live shots. I used to not wear a hat and just freeze off my ears. That’s why I’ve got small ears. They’re like that cat we had growing up, she wouldn’t come in from the cold and had her ears freeze off.

We begin with the photographers. They are behind the scenes. Occasionally, you may see their hand in a live shot. This is my old friend Lee Rouse of WHO-TV in Des Moines. Lee was behind the camera the day back in 2007 when he and Jon Cahill were out in a snow storm and the power line just erupted behind the subject of the interview. Anyone remember this video?

Katie Wiedeman, KCRG -TV 9, Cedar Rapids

This screen shot captures Katie Wiedeman of KCRG-TV 9 news of Cedar Rapids. She is usually based out of the Dubuque newsroom, so it is always a fun time be out and about in those hills of eastern Iowa.

This shot is more of a head band and a side, profile shot of Katie.

But it is a lid and it is on her head in a live shot on television.

It is a nice purple headband. Hey, whatever it takes to stay warm and toasty when out in the snow.

Ted McInerney, WHBF - TV 4, Rock Island.

Now we head back to my old stomping grounds and the Quad Cities.

WHBF-TV (Channel 4) gave us a couple of good shots before and they haven’t disappointed me this year either.

This is Ted McInerney of the CBS affiliate based in Rock Island.

The big snow of early February, hit the QC particularly hard, with more than a foot of snow falling in the region, some spots even seeing 17 inches of snow.

WHBF SUV stuck in the snow.

This was the type of snow where the reporters say, ‘don’t come out here unless you have to…” and they meant it. Maybe one of Ted’s co-workers should have listened the advice being given.

It snowed enough to make driving difficult for everyone.

Including reporters for WHBF. Channel 4 did a story on how the reporter got stuck, received help in getting shoveled out and moved on to the next snow desk story.

Courtney Baker, WHBF - TV 4

Again, with the WHBF reporters.

This is Courtney Baker.

She is also live outside the station’s front door, in the snow. Her hat is a nice checkered one and adds a little variety to the mix of our normal lids we see.

Concetta Callahan, WHBF - TV4

Here is another WHBF reporter, Conchetta Callahan. She too, is out the front door.

You can see how much snow is behind here (I feel like writing copy for reporters again).

The road behind her is the street that leads to the District of Rock Island, a popular weekend and night hang out for some of the younger adults.

I’m just saying, I may have been there a time or two. Blue Cat was a fun place to go…. but I digress. I think even saw my first Nada’s concert at RIBCO on a Halloween way back when.

Back to the hats.

Angie Mitchum, WQAD - TV8

We stay in the Quad Cities market and the Illinois side of the river. This is Angie Mitchum of WQAD-TV.

Channel 8 is becoming a place for former KWQC folks with Terry Swails now doing weather there. When Erik Maitland returns to the QC, he’ll be in direct competition with this former weather office mate, Mr. Swails.

Erik has been in Minneapolis since leaving Davenport a couple of years back. Mr. Maitland will be replacing Ryan Burchett in front of the chief meteorologist’s green screen.

Back to Angie, she’s in the simple black hat and wearing a scarf. I could do a post on scarves, but come on, would you really read that?

Christina Palladino, WOI - TV5.

Back to Des Moines and WOI-TV.

This is Channel 5′s weekend anchor Christina Palladino out on assignment. I believe she is at the Brenton Skating Plaza in Des Moines. It always a good spot for a night live shot. You wouldn’t need a good back light to see her red hat on television.

Christina is another QC transplant to Des Moines. She formerly worked at WHBF in Rock Island. She is not the first and probably won’t be the last to be transferred from one to the other.

Andy Fales, WHO - TV13

And we finish this post with Mr. Andy Fales.

This is a rare find. Normally, Andy will not wear a hat, but this Tuesday storm forced everyone to bundle up more than usual.
It is time for me to get ready for Andy on SoundOff with Keith Murphy.

There was another big storm in north Iowa and I expect to see some pictures soon of reporters out in the elements and wearing their protection.

Public Broadcasting under attack

The IPTV remote production truck outside of Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa in 2011. IPTV has covered College Wrestling for 35 seasons.

I am an employee of Iowa Public Television.

Let’s get that out-of-the-way before we go any further.

And, we here at Iowa’s network, are under attack.

But before I started working here on The Iowa Journal, Market To Market and College Wrestling, I was a consumer, just like many of you. I watched Sesame Street, Frontline, Austin City Limits and many other programs offered only on public television.

I’m also a huge consumer of public radio. Have you listened to NPR news programming before? Incredible depth is offered. Also programs like Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me and This American Life, Marketplace are all staples of information.

These programs are consumer supported, but also government supported. We don’t get all our operational money from the federal state government, but it allows us to provide coverage from the resident of Terrace Hill to the piano competition bearing the same name.

Our general manager Dan Miller sent out the following memo today.

Hello,

I’m sure you’ve seen press reports about plans released Friday night to eliminate federal funding for public broadcasting. The plans are contained in an appropriations bill that will be debated in the House this week.

This is serious. If realized, the proposal would cripple IPTV and seriously jeopardize our continued ability to deliver services to the 1.5 M people who use them each week. That’s because CPB funding alone — the lion’s share of the federal public broadcasting dollar — amounts to 13% or 2.3M of our operating budget. It touches everything we do — everything. And it couldn’t come at a worse time, with IPTV facing a third round of significant state budget cuts that, if enacted, will result in our state appropriation being 26% less than it was 3 years ago.

You should know that we’re working very hard on this issue – arguing for the merits of what we do using myriad means: our broadcast air on all three channels, e-mail to18,000 supporters, calls and letters from boards and donors and others with close political connections.

You should also know that we plan to continue are efforts until they’re no longer needed.

If you were waiting for the right time to sign up for http://www.170millionamericans.org//

/dkm

Daniel K. Miller
Executive Director
and General Manager
Iowa Public Television

Please take time to visit http://www.170millionamericans.org and sign up your name, make a phone call, write a letter, do whatever you feel is important to make sure continued work here in the public media sector.

I’ve worked in the commercial world and now the public side. We do two different things and offer services and coverage in different ways.

If you don’t feel it is important, that’s fine, but I think if you’ve read this note this far, I think you find some value in what we do.

Thank you.

Climbing Cooper Mountain for 5 minutes in February

During 2011, my goal is to update this blog with tales of the Yeager boys.

A fun idea I’m stealing from others is to spend five good minutes with each boy and capture that conversation on tape on the 5th of each month.

Right now, I’m 2 for 2.

I spent some time with Noah outside on Saturday. We were playing in the snow. The weather was warm enough to allow for some play time. We made a snowman and threw snowballs. But the real fun was climbing the mountain.

So, I may regret a couple of those things later, but jumping from a snow pile to the snowy ground while covered in six layers is pretty safe.

Now, Levi on the other hand, still stays indoors most days. We spend our time with him in the basement showing off his new tricks for the month.

If you remember during last week’s posts, Noah made some silly videos. As my sister Kris said, Noah looks like Amy, but there’s no denying he’s your son.

The sun did shine in Day 5 of YBHA V

The sun was almost shining when we awoke from our winter slumber on Wednesday.

The storm had passed. The sub-zero cold was setting in and the boys slept all night. Plus I was feeling 900% better than the day before. I hate being sick. So, Wednesday was off to a great start.

Or, so it seemed.

It did seem the cold was hitting a little close to home when I did get out of bed.

With a near-fever the night before, I was sleeping in short sleeves and figured that was why I was cold. But, a closer check of the furnace answered my gut feeling. Hopefully, the furnace intake was clogged and nothing more. 52 degrees is a little too cool in the house.

The boys have space heaters in their rooms, so they didn’t notice any difference. Noah cuddled up under a blanket for breakfast as I headed out to clear the air intake.

The furnace restarted, I got the driveway blown clear and we were in business. (Thanks to 72 degrees for the tip last December when the same problem happened.)

Noah was one of four kids between two classrooms. There are two rooms side-by-side that are preschool rooms and usually there’s about 30 kids between the two rooms. Today, because of a the blizzard closing Ankeny schools and 6 kids in Noah’s class sick, it was just an intimate group.

Noah got sad on drop-off. He hasn’t done that in a quite some time. He told me later it was because he was the only boy in his room at that time.

We had to make up for some lost time following work and school on Wednesday. We needed to get Mom her birthday present. Get to the airport to make sure her car was not one big drift and would start, plus get to the Wiese’s to practice for this Sunday’s special music.

We did it. And with a little time to spare. Thanks to Grandpa for riding along to the airport. He’d had a busy day of giving driveways a little extra cleaning, that was much appreciated.

When we got home from music practice, Noah decided to address the camera about his new character.

If you thought that one was silly.

Check out this one. I think I know where he gets it from.

Finally, I was able to calm Noah down to talk about his day in a normal way. He sure loves the new iPhone ability to watch what you’re recording.

The day ended with Amy telling me she was in Amsterdam, ready to board her flight for Detroit and it was on-time, no delays. But will that truly be the case?

At least we were above the Mendoza Line on Day 4

Levi kept us going on Tuesday.

For six hours on Tuesday, it was a good day. 6 out of 24 had us batting .250. That’s above the Mendoza line or, .200 in baseball lingo.

But those six hours weren’t all together.

The first two were fine and peaceful as the Yeager boys slept.

Then I decided to spend the next 2 hours in the bathroom.

Noah woke up early.

Dad didn’t feel good.

But our cute little Levi was ready for anything. He really was a bright shining light for us.

Thank goodness.

Oh, and there was the pending snowstorm heading our way and all across the country, including the Detroit Airport. The same airport that Amy is to fly into on Thursday. We also had a potential repeat of YBHA II warming up in the bullpen to face Mendoza.

Just before we got to day care, Noah said his stomach wasn’t feeling so good. I’d been waiting for that as kids have been dropping like flies. But as I dropped him off, he felt fine and ran off to play with friends.

Levi was great.

Dad, not so much.

I ended up leaving work for the doctor then went home to lay down for the afternoon.

I got the boys in the beginning of the good part of the storm. But about half-way into picking them up, I realized this was a bad idea. I called in the reinforcements. Thank goodness the Grandparent National Guard was able to deploy and feed the boys supper and wear them down for an hour. Thank goodness for Gen. Wil and Gen. Paula and their support in the snowstorm.

The all clear was sounded at 8:00:00 when Noah’s head hit the pillow. I was in bed at 8:00:15. But the wind was howling, the snow was falling.

Let’s hope we don’t dip below Mendoza on Wednesday or Thursday.